A Year of Living Generously: Dispatches From The Front Lines Of Philanthropy

Can one person make a difference? When we write a cheque to a charity, or run in a fundraiser, or volunteer at a food bank, we're part of the solution, aren't we? Author and journalist Lawrence Scanlan went searching for answers to those questions. He selected twelve different charitable organizations and devoted a month to each. What he discovered during his year-long odyCan one person make a difference? When we write a cheque to a charity, or run in a fundraiser, or volunteer at a food bank, we're part of the solution, aren't we? Author and journalist Lawrence Scanlan went searching for answers to those questions. He selected twelve different charitable organizations and devoted a month to each. What he discovered during his year-long odyssey was the new face of philanthropy - its players, its politics, its undeniable satisfactions and its fundamental perils. Scanlan works alongside other volunteer builders in hurricane-ravaged New Orleans, teaches journalism at a community radio station in Senegal, works with AIDS/HIV victims in Costa Rica, and marvels at the resilience of the homeless in Canada. He encounters the legacies of famous philanthropists, from Andrew Carnegie, Paul Newman, Bill Gates and June Callwood to lesser-known figures like street nurse Cathy Crowe, prison nun Mother Antonia, and a woman who grows a garden for the dying. Finding hope and humor every step of the way, Scanlan nevertheless confronts some uncomfortable truths about direct engagement and the societal divide that allows most of us to look away. A Year of Living Generously is a fresh and critical exlporation of ways to help the world's less fortunate. Scanlan argues passionately for greater connection and genuine committment from us all--individuals, governments and philanthropists of every stripe....more

Community Reviews

Lawrence Scanlan, a writer and journalist from Kingston, Ontario, has for many years volunteered his time, his money, and his talents to various charitable and community organisations. But in 2008, he decided to immerse himself in ‘deep volunteering’. He wanted to explore the concepts of the original meaning of philanthropia, which originally meant ‘love for humankind’. He asks, “Are governments right to trust that wealthy benefactors and armies of volunteers will pick up the slack if they stepLawrence Scanlan, a writer and journalist from Kingston, Ontario, has for many years volunteered his time, his money, and his talents to various charitable and community organisations. But in 2008, he decided to immerse himself in ‘deep volunteering’. He wanted to explore the concepts of the original meaning of philanthropia, which originally meant ‘love for humankind’. He asks, “Are governments right to trust that wealthy benefactors and armies of volunteers will pick up the slack if they step aside?”

He arranged a different volunteer mission for each month of the year. He started off working at Vinnie’s, a St Vincent de Paul centre drop-in centre in Kingston for the homeless and needy. While he served up food to the hungry, he learned the stories of the clients and the other volunteers, and he considered their roles and relationships with each other, struggling to consider all in a larger context. A note is on one of the kitchen cupboards: “There are no unimportant jobs, no unimportant people, no unimportant acts of kindness.” He is reminded of this repeatedly as he cycles through the next twelve months.He works with advocates for the homeless, in a hospice, an immigrant services help centre, soup kitchen in Costa Rica, and a woman’s radio station in Africa. He spends a month with a John Howard Society group in Kingston (which is home to a number of prisons). It is disheartening to read how in so many ways our society has not advanced beyond its instinctive prejudices and cruelties. One of his opening quotes warns us: “An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics.” This was from the first century Greek historian Plutarch. Our present government continues to push further to the right, with ideologies indistinguishable from those of the ruling classes a hundred years ago, incapable of recognising truths articulated two thousand years ago.

But it doesn’t all feel like hopeless windmill tilting. He spends time helping at a therapeutic horse riding place, and during his time with an environmental group he describes a David vs Goliath victory against a giant company which was eventually blocked from a plan to incinerate tires in order to produce energy (and even purify the air, according to the incredible spin of a company engineer who must have been very desperate to hold on to his great pension). He enlists his loveable dog Dusty to provide pet therapy for the disabled at a Kingston resource centre. He is amazed to see that three years after Hurricane Katrina, vast areas of New Orleans have still not been resuscitated and rehabilitated, and he joins in on building a home there with the group Habitat for Humanity. He shares his talents for writing by helping to teach his craft to First Nations students on a Mohawk reservation. Each experience reinforces the idea that this is all about people helping people. “Only a twist of fate separates us.”

Despite this being a book about his different experiences at these various organisations, his presence in the book is only as a facilitator, to show the real stories. He doesn’t let himself get in the way of the stories.

In the epilogue, he says he believes in benevolence, and he he will always continue to actively serve in the volunteer ranks, as he has done for many years. But, he says “the status quo stinks. Volunteers alone, magnanimous philanthropists alone, are not the answer.” This is the best chapter. He criticizes the failure of governments to address the underlying causes that result in the need for these charities. And the model itself is deeply flawed. “The model of charity that has governed North America for centuries, simply put, goes like this: let the rich amass their wealth, unfettered by taxes as much as possible, and let us hope they ‘give back’ before dying.” He agrees with others, who find that this model “is paternalistic and given to self-congratulation.” He quotes Monique Begin, a former cabinet minister over 20 years ago, who said “Canada likes to brag that for seven years in a row the United Nations voted us the best country in the world in which to live. …The truth is that our country is so wealthy that it manages to mask the reality of food-banks in our cities, of unacceptable housing, of young Inuit adults’ very high suicide rates.”

“Inequality is bad for our health, as individuals and as nations.”

When I started the book I wondered if it was going to be a syrupy wide-eyed paean to the selfless heroism of the volunteers. But it isn’t. It’s both a celebration and a lament. He exhorts us: “Marry that individual giving with political engagement. Pressure politicians at every level…join forces with those who advocate for the poor…Be less the avid consumer and more the engaged citizen. Show empathy as a volunteer, show passion as an activist. Get angry, get informed…” ...more

I got this book for free as the author was giving a talk and signing books at MAC this week. But I wouldn't have read it, if it had not appealed to me. I particularly appreciated the focus on local organizations because all too often we are not aware of what happens in our own backyard. It was eye-opening and makes you think about compassion and the contributions you (as the reader) can/should make to the lives of others and why. The epilogue is powerful in exploring the notions of philanthropyI got this book for free as the author was giving a talk and signing books at MAC this week. But I wouldn't have read it, if it had not appealed to me. I particularly appreciated the focus on local organizations because all too often we are not aware of what happens in our own backyard. It was eye-opening and makes you think about compassion and the contributions you (as the reader) can/should make to the lives of others and why. The epilogue is powerful in exploring the notions of philanthropy versus rights/responsibilities - there is a place for all of it!...more

A very touching and inspiring book, not about the man who took on the task of volunteering in these institutions, but instead of those who surrounded him; the people who live impoverished lives and those who feel helpless when it comes to aiding them. The book really struck me, with powerful quotes and writing that really makes you want to stand up and help these people out. The message was extremely prominent and I have already recommended this read to many others.

I really enjoyed this book and loved how the author used his journalism skills to create some a well rounded read! The author explores philanthropy and volunteerism and spends a year volunteering in 12 different organizations. He learns a lot about non-profits, volunteering, social problems and the communities around them. The author is from Kingston, Ontario, and I enjoyed learning more about that community. I definitely enjoyed the Canadian aspects of this book.

This book was given to me as a gift from a professor at Mac after the author did a book signing. She said it reminded her of me and my volunteer stints local and abroad. Great book with touching tales and eye opening experiences. Great life quotes as well.

Lawrence Scanlan is the author of six bestselling books, including Wild About Horses and Little Horse of Iron. He is the coauthor, with Ian Millar, of Riding High, and has written three books for younger readers: Big Ben, Horses Forever, and The Horse’s Shadow. Scanlan worked closely with Monty Roberts on his acclaimed book The Man Who Listens to Horses. Winner of three CanadiFrom Macmillan Books:

Lawrence Scanlan is the author of six bestselling books, including Wild About Horses and Little Horse of Iron. He is the coauthor, with Ian Millar, of Riding High, and has written three books for younger readers: Big Ben, Horses Forever, and The Horse’s Shadow. Scanlan worked closely with Monty Roberts on his acclaimed book The Man Who Listens to Horses. Winner of three Canadian National Magazine Awards for his journalism, Scanlan lives in Kingston, Ontario....more